THANK you, Sian Belton. As an alternative, LGBTQ+ friendly wedding photographer, I feel very honoured to share your guest blog post on my website.

LGBTQ+ WEDDINGS MAKE WAVES BY SIAN

Planning a marriage to the love of your life is never a quick process. It’s carefully thought out, and even more so with LGBTQ weddings, as it's only since 2014 that It has been possible to marry in the UK.

As LGBTQ couples have experienced some form of discrimination in their life, they can use their wedding day to declare their love and celebrate their journey together unashamedly.

Every wedding day should be one of the most memorable and celebrated days in a couple’s journey together. Thankfully, everyone now has the right to marry and enjoy their magical day.

CHALLENGING TRADITIONS

While the core process of getting married is the same, LGBTQ weddings are breaking conventions and challenging the traditional wedding format and more and more people are starting to do the same, regardless of gender.

It is no longer necessary to have one person waiting at the altar and the other walking the aisle (or as some say walking the gauntlet). It is now perfectly acceptable for both to walk the aisle. LGBTQ marriages have allowed us to dispense with the restrictive and stifling traditions of the past and have encouraged everyone to view their wedding as a celebration of their journey as a couple. To celebrate their uniqueness and make their wedding day their own.

Traditional dress codes can be overturned and made unique to your wedding party. One of my brides, of Mexican heritage, is planning to wear a traditional Mexican charra suit in white and gold, while her wife to be, wears a white dress. The choices are limitless and can be tailored to you and your partner.

A NEW LANGUAGE

The wedding industry, thanks to LGBTQ weddings, has now embraced new vocabulary and ideas such as Bridesmen, Groomsmaids, Man of Honour and Best Women. I love the fact that gender is no longer a factor; It’s all about the relationship you have with your partner and nothing to do with traditional gender roles. Some of my grooms about to marry their bride, have now started requesting a Best Lady, instead of a Best Man.

CELEBRANT CEREMONIES

I feel that one of the best ways that you can make your wedding your own is by having a celebrant led ceremony. Every element of your wedding should be perfect and without compromise and as an indipendent celebrant myself, I am free to design and conduct a ceremony that suits you and your personalities. Not to mention that it can be held anywhere too.

One LGBTQ couple I had the privilege to officiate wrote personal vows that had great comedic value. “I promise not to leave wet towels on the bed”. Another was “I promise not to let the cat out before you are due to go to work”. It certainly gave the guests a good giggle.

I couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to use vows that are not uniquely theirs, as each relationship is different and vows are such a critical part of marriage.

SETTING THE TRENDS FOR YEARS TO COME

In the 21st century, finally a wedding is just about the union of two people, celebrating the love that they have for one another in a way that is uniquely yours. LGBTQ marriages have helped break conventions and traditions and I would say are now the ‘trend setters’ of marriages.

You have shown that making a wedding day unique and personal does not dilute the sanctity of marriage, you have made celebrant-led ceremonies more appealing to the masses and those that are looking for a wedding that can be as unique as they are.

You are making waves in the industry that cannot be ignored. You are the dream wedding for many.

Guest blog by Sian Belton, owner of Busy Bride Wedding Planners

Thank you for this Sian.

Please, get in touch if you are looking for a gay friendly wedding photographer in London.